Cycle hire scheme organisers defiant

According to this report on BikeEurope, the Paris Cycle Hire scheme is set for expansion despite suffering high levels of vandalism and theft – with half the original fleet going missing.

A further 300 hire stations and 3,300 bikes will be launched before the end of the year, while a ‘vandal-proof’ Velib bike is being developed for the Paris city council.

The hire scheme is also broadening its reach beyond the city centre, stretching into Boulogne-Billancourt to the west of the Paris – the first suburb to see the scheme. The cost of the expansion is reported to be €8 million.

Cycle hire is an initiative being introduced across a number of European cities, including Barcelona – where uptake of the scheme has exceeded expectations. Transport for London revealed that it would be launching a similar scheme last May, while some UK train stations are set to see Dutch-style 'CyclePoint' shops with bike hire facilities - possibly including Paddington Station.